Free Projected Pleasure by Jennifer Salaiz

start trouble, but when I told her I was here to see Cole because we planned a dinner date, she snapped. I thought she was going to take my head off. She said ‘my house’ and
    ‘my Cole’ like I was invading her territory or something. But then she said she was joking, so I don’t know. It just felt so real at first. If I wouldn’t have drunk a margarita earlier, I would say her eyes started glowing, but I think I was just imagining that.”

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    “Really,” Zachary laughed uneasily, “no, that’s perfectly normal.
    She jokes like that all the time. It’s nothing to worry about, Josie. Do you usually drink this early?”
    “When I feel the need,” she laughed.
    They walked inside, and Cole let Zachary lead Josie away.
    Quickly, he went looking for the one person besides Marley he wanted to see. Colt. He was going to wring that kid’s neck. Jesus! He couldn’t put up with that for the rest of the day. But he had to admit her information made him smile. It was good to know Marley reacted that way.

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    Jennifer Salaiz

Chapter 11
    Marley tossed and turned in bed. Dinner replayed in her mind repeatedly. It was a complete disaster. Little blonde twit! Cole was practically drooling at the table. Normally, Marley was the most unselfish person in the room, but when it came to her men, jealousy had her claws coming out, literally. She knew Cole needed a mate, but shit, not that one! Josephine was all wrong for him.
    Hitting her pillow, Marley turned over in the bed facing Zachary.
    “She’s all wrong for him, you know. They are completely incompatible. I don’t even know why I let her sit at the same table. I should have placed her at the table with the kids. It would have been perfect. And if I have to hear tips from her on what merchandise I should buy for my store one more time, I’m kicking her out.”
    Her husband laughed. “Marley, it wasn’t that bad. She just was trying to give some helpful advice. I really don’t see why you’re so upset. Your online store is thriving so don’t pay it any attention.”
    She took a deep breath trying to calm her temper. “And what was she wearing? Doesn’t she know we all saw her pink thong whenever she purposely bent over to retrieve the fork she accidently dropped?
    There wasn’t even a need to get out of her chair! Why she decided to flash the whole table is beyond me.”
    “Marley, Cole wants her. We have to accept who he’s chosen.”
    “Bullshit. I’m not accepting her and that’s final.” Marley hit her pillow again, trying to flatten it out. The damn thing just wasn’t comfortable for her tonight. “And what about…”

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    “Marley, for crying out loud! Hold on.” Zachary reached for his cell phone off of the bedside table. The light blue of the light lit up his face in the dark bedroom.
    “Wait, what are you doing?”
    “Just hold on while I make a call.”
    The ringing of the phone only increased the beating of her heart.
    Who was her husband calling at this time of the night? She feared at who her mind came up with. Surely, her husband wouldn’t call him.
    “Cole, come to my room please.”
    Marley’s heart seemed to stop for a moment. “What did you do that for? Great! What am I supposed to tell him?” She hated being right.
    Silence made her ears ring until, seconds later, a knock sounded at the door just as Cole walked in. “You wanted to see me?”
    “Yeah, turn on the light,” Zachary said, sitting up.
    Marley sat up, too, feeling herself blush under the strain of what her husband might end up telling Cole. It truly was none of her business. She knew this day was coming, yet she hadn’t expected what walked through the door. Well, if she wanted to be truthful with herself, she was hoping no one would take her place.
    “Please put my wife at ease. She’s freaking out about your mate. I keep telling her things will work themselves out, and yet she continues to worry. I’m going to